Paradox of our beliefs

So recently I have found myself at times wondering about the tension between balancing faith in God's word with our responsibility to make the right decisions. As one who believes that God has given us the ability to express free will in our actions, I believe that we as individuals are empowered to determine how we will respond to God's leading. Will we choose obedience or disobedience. Deuteronomy 30:19 comes to mind, " This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."

When we choose to be obedient, our actions are lining up with our belief about what God has said, and we act in faith. When we choose selfishly or contrary to God's word, we express our will over His perfect will for us by sinning. Sin leads to destruction, death, calamity, and many things that God desires us to avoid.

Ok, so on that trail of thoughts, how do I balance walking in faith with being responsible in planning. Where does the line get drawn between me trusting in my ability instead of counting on God to come through. One of the places I find myself constantly being stretched as a pastor is in walking the line between leading in faith, regardless of the obstacles, and planning accordingly to ensure a smooth and successful endeavor.

From a personal perspective, I have some growing up to do in the area of being patient and waiting on the Lord to do what He said He would do. I find that I want to be the one to determine the "season" between sowing the seeds and reaping the harvest. Haha. When I read what I just wrote I think, "Wow, how arrogant of you Freddy!" Guess that is why I needed to write it. But have a pretty strong feeling I am not alone on this one.

Galatians 6:9 has become a very special verse to me over the years. It says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Key words for me right now..."at the proper time". The reality is that God gets to pick when the proper time is, not us :) So I am responsible to express my faith in actions, plan to the best of my ability in accordance with what God has told me to do, and then trust Him to deliver the results when the time is right. Easier to write than to do...but if it were easy, I guess everyone would do it right. I seem to recall Jesus saying something about a wide road and a narrow road :)

Huh, something to think about.